This report provides a strategic assessment of the key elements of change expected in the petrochemical industry from the renewed acceptance and likely easing of sanctions in Iran.  Before sanctions took hold and curtailed the development of the largely export-oriented industry, Iran had ambitious plans to develop a world scale petrochemical industry. When this development stalled other Middle Eastern players took advantage of the opportunity. However, a re-emergence of petrochemical momentum in Iran would undoubtedly have implications for the rest of the Middle East industry and how it develops.  Nexant looks at the current state of the industry in Iran and evaluates how it will develop, assessing the real opportunities for investors and how this will impact the global markets.  

The study analyzes the economics of the methanol-to-aromatics processes currently being promoted in China, and compares their attractiveness to conventional aromatics production.  The cost analysis considers the volatility in coal prices as well as crude oil prices which drive conventional aromatics production economics, and also considers whether methanol-to-aromatics will be attractive in other regions such as the United States and the Middle East.

Overall techno-economic feasibility of commercial bio-naphtha production and steam cracking is investigated in this report. Various biofeedstocks and potential locations have been incorporated into the technological and production cost analyses of the leading process technologies within the study. Global production, consumption, and trade patterns of the major steam cracker products are included.

This report analyzes the production of butanol from renewable sources and associated downstream markets.  Technical, commercial, and economic aspects of producing biobutanol by different process technologies are compared and discussed. The various alternatives to convert biobutanols into chemical and polymer products, as well as supplying the large existing markets, are also examined.